Optimizing container payloads in paper industry
Nelimarkka, Tiina (2015)
2015
Tuotantotalouden koulutusohjelma
Talouden ja rakentamisen tiedekunta - Faculty of Business and Built Environment
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2015-04-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201503231148
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201503231148
Tiivistelmä
Previous studies concern aspects of logistics performance measurement systems. When it comes closer to the utilization rate of vehicle, there is a lack of academic study concerning all transportation modes. There is no research on the utilization rates especially concerning sea containers and also deliveries of paper industry. The target is to explore the container load fills of a paper company which has recognized some inefficiency in its container shipments. The purpose of this thesis is to describe the supply chain process, clarify the current state of performance and provide development proposals. The main research question is formulated as following: How to optimize container payloads?
The study began with a literature review of the topic. The research strategy was multi method research strategy. In order to describe the supply chain process of the company, personnel concerning sales, production and logistics were involved in this research. Moreover logistics service provider and port operator provided information by which the container load fills were examined. Qualitative data was collected through interviews, informal discussions and observations. Quantitative data was collected using weight specification lists and stuffing details.
As a result of this thesis detailed information about container utilization rates, supply chain and its problems is provided. The information is partly very specific information relating to paper industry. The study indicates that there is room for improvement in container shipments. There are many factors in sales, production and delivery that have an influence on fill rate and therefore improving the situation cannot be carried out just by changing one single thing. Instead the situation must be looked at a more comprehensive level. One important suggestion is to pay more attention to order entry phase and especially to order tolerances. Another important issue is to change the complicated usage procedure of left over reels and overproduced reels. Moreover, changing pricing conditions and applying load optimization software were seen as useful, because they help to increase the fill rate from the beginning. But the acquisition of load optimization software needs still to be evaluated in a more detailed way in the future.
The study began with a literature review of the topic. The research strategy was multi method research strategy. In order to describe the supply chain process of the company, personnel concerning sales, production and logistics were involved in this research. Moreover logistics service provider and port operator provided information by which the container load fills were examined. Qualitative data was collected through interviews, informal discussions and observations. Quantitative data was collected using weight specification lists and stuffing details.
As a result of this thesis detailed information about container utilization rates, supply chain and its problems is provided. The information is partly very specific information relating to paper industry. The study indicates that there is room for improvement in container shipments. There are many factors in sales, production and delivery that have an influence on fill rate and therefore improving the situation cannot be carried out just by changing one single thing. Instead the situation must be looked at a more comprehensive level. One important suggestion is to pay more attention to order entry phase and especially to order tolerances. Another important issue is to change the complicated usage procedure of left over reels and overproduced reels. Moreover, changing pricing conditions and applying load optimization software were seen as useful, because they help to increase the fill rate from the beginning. But the acquisition of load optimization software needs still to be evaluated in a more detailed way in the future.